This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Shooting the intruder with an AK-47 was legal, St. George police say.
Shooting him while possessing marijuana, as police contend, violates the law.
And so St. George police have arrested the resident who shot a burglar there Thursday morning.
Stephan Prokay, 20, was booked into the Washington County Jail on Thursday on suspicion of marijuana possession, possessing paraphernalia and unlawful possession of a firearm. Prokay left jail the same day after posting about $9,000 in bond. He has not formally been charged.
Police also have arrested four people suspected of trying to rob him, including the man Prokay shot.
The attempted robbery and shooting happened about 9 a.m. Thursday at Prokay's apartment at 1366 W. Indian Hills Drive. St. George police Officer Derek Lewis said detectives don't yet know why the bandits targeted Prokay, but they apparently thought Prokay wasn't home.
"We're trying to figure this out as we go along," Lewis said.
The robbers forced their way inside and Prokay retrieved the AK-47 rifle and fired, Lewis said.
A bullet hit one suspect in the leg, Lewis said. The foursome fled. Police were called to the scene and notified area hospitals to watch for a gunshot victim.
Iron County Sheriff's Sgt. Jody Edwards said staff at Valley View Medical Center in Cedar City called police when the wounded suspect arrived. Police also found two men and a teenage girl believed to have participated.
Police have not disclosed the name of the wounded man or the juvenile. The wounded man remains at Valley View, Lewis said.
The two other men arrested are Toree Edwards, 19, and Bradley Neil, 20, both of Cedar City. They remained in the Washington County Jail on suspicion of burglary.
It's a felony in Utah to have a gun and illegal drugs. Lewis said that while police were investigating the shooting they smelled marijuana. Detectives obtained a search warrant and found a small amount of marijuana and paraphernalia, he said.
Twitter: @natecarlisle